Shloka 1

ऋषभचरित्रवर्णनम् (Ṛṣabha-caritra-varṇanam) — “Account of Ṛṣabha’s Sacred Narrative”

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । सनत्कुमार सर्वज्ञ चरितं शांकरं मुदा । रुद्रेण कथितं प्रीत्या ब्रह्मणे सुखदं सदा

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | sanatkumāra sarvajña caritaṃ śāṃkaraṃ mudā | rudreṇa kathitaṃ prītyā brahmaṇe sukhadaṃ sadā

Translation

নন্দীশ্বর বললেন—হে সর্বজ্ঞ সনৎকুমার! আমি আনন্দসহকারে শঙ্কর-চরিত বর্ণনা করব, যা রুদ্র প্রেমভরে ব্রহ্মাকে বলেছিলেন এবং যা চিরসুখদায়ক।

Word by Word

• nandīśvaraḥ: Nandīśvara
• nandīśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandīśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नन्दी + ईश्वर (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/सम्बन्ध)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• sanatkumāra: O Sanatkumāra
• sanatkumāra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanatkumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; सनत् + कुमार

• sarvajña: O all-knowing one
• sarvajña: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarvajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; सर्वं जानाति इति (बहुव्रीहि), sanatkumāra-विशेषण

• caritam: deed, story, conduct
• caritam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: carita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• śāṃkaram: pertaining to Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• śāṃkaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; caritam-विशेषण

• mudā: with joy, gladly
• mudā: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mudā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/हेतु-भाव

• rudreṇa: by Rudra
• rudreṇa: Kartṛ-karaṇa (कर्ता-निर्देशक/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• kathitam: told, narrated
• kathitam: Kriyā (क्रिया/कृत)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kath (धातु)
• Form: कृतप्रत्यय: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; caritam-समनाधिकरण

• prītyā: with affection
• prītyā: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/हेतु-भाव

• brahmaṇe: to Brahmā
• brahmaṇe: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन

• sukhadam: giving happiness
• sukhadam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukhada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सुखं ददाति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष), caritam/kathitam-विशेषण

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra
• Brahma
• Sanatkumara
• Nandi

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse establishes Shiva-kathā (hearing the Lord’s sacred deeds) as inherently bliss-giving: a transmission of grace from Rudra to Brahmā, now offered again through Nandīśvara—implying that attentive listening purifies the pashu (bound soul) and turns it toward Pati (Śiva).

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By introducing the “Śāṅkara carita,” it frames Saguna Śiva—Śiva known through divine names, forms, and deeds—as a legitimate and joy-filled doorway to devotion; such kathā naturally supports Linga-worship by strengthening bhakti and reverence for Śiva’s manifest presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Śravaṇa and kīrtana of Shiva-kathā are implied: regularly listening to or reciting the Shiva Purana with devotion—especially on auspicious days like Mahāśivarātri—serves as a practical sādhanā that steadies the mind in Śiva-bhāva.